Give guests a beautiful welcome with a lush red berry wreath at your front door! This DIY holiday wreath with red berries would also be lovely Christmas decor for your mantle. The step-by-step tutorial includes tips for showcasing and storing the wreath.

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DIY red berry wreath
As you know, I’m a huge fan of seasonal wreaths, especially around Christmas time! It’s just so lovely to enter a room and be greeted by a gorgeous holiday wreath.
A traditional holly berry wreath instantly spreads the spirit of the holiday season. The DIY red berry wreath I’m sharing today is simple yet sure to make a statement.
You’ll also learn to adorn your wreath with twinkling lights, and I let you on my best tips and tricks to create a stunning piece of Christmas decor.
If you love festive wreaths, you’ve come to the right place! We have more tutorials to choose from, including favorites like these pinecone wreaths, jingle bells wreath, this felt holiday wreath, and Cyna’s white Christmas wreath.

Red berry wreath meaning
Christmas wreaths are packed with tradition and symbolism. They have a long history that dates back to the ancient pagan people and early Romans.
Eventually, wreaths became a symbol of Christianity, embodying Jesus’ suffering and everlasting life. Today, wreaths are meant to invite the spirit of Christmas into your home and celebrate the coming of Christ.
The faux berries you see in the pictures are modeled after the winterberry, a species of holly. Few plants are at their most beautiful once their leaves have fallen. But the winterberry is an exception. The branches are densely studded with red berries, offering a midwinter splash of color.
A winterberry wreath can be seen as a symbol of endurance and good luck. In folklore, holly is also said to offer protection from bad. Regardless of whether you believe in these things, it’s a beautiful holiday decoration and fun craft project.

Materials & supplies
A wreath base, red berry sprigs, a bunch of mini ornaments, and maybe string lights are all you need for this simple holiday craft. Let’s take a closer look:
- Grapevine wreath acts as the base of our red berry wreath. Grapevine wreaths come in different sizes. My wreath base measured 16 in / 40 cm, but of course, you can choose any size you want.
- Red berry stems: Faux berry stems make up the decoration of the homemade holiday wreath. Get a selection of berry picks in different sizes and hues of red.
- Red mini holiday ornaments look like large berries and add holiday charm. I used a mix of matt and polished glass ornaments.
- LED string lights (optional) can be used to light the wreath. Be sure to buy battery-powered fairy lights and make sure they are suitable for outdoor use if you plan to hang your wreath outside. Lighting the wreath is optional. It will look just as beautiful unlit.
- Fine wire (optional) to secure the battery compartment of the fairy lights to the wreath base.
Tools
- Wire cutter to shorten wired stems.
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks to apply the ornaments.
Where to buy supplies
You can order all of the supplies online, for example, on Amazon. You will also find everything you need to complete this project at craft stores like Michael’s, Joann, or Hobby Lobby. Target and Dollar Tree carry most of these items, too.

Can I make this a red berry wreath with real berries?
Yes, you can create your wreath with real berries instead of artificial ones. Winterberries (Ilex verticillata) are available throughout fall and winter, and the bright red berries look absolutely stunning.
However, the stems of winterberry are sturdier and harder to arrange. A wreath with natural plants won’t last as long as its artificial counterpart.
I recommend displaying a real winterberry wreath outdoors only. Some berries will fall off the stems and pop, potentially staining carpets and floors.
How to make a red berry breath

Step 1: Create base
- Start with your most flexible and bendable berry sprays.
- Using wire cutters, shorten the stems to 3 in to 4 in / 7 cm to 10 cm.
- Pushing the branches between the grapevine, insert them at a flat angle into the wreath base.
- Add 1 stem in the center, move a few inches down, and then add 2 stems at the sides. Repeat and go around the whole wreath.
- You need probably 40 to 50 stalks for this step.

Step 2: Add movement
- Next, take long and sturdy berry stems.
- Let them stick out of the wreath to create movement.
- You need approximately 9 to 10 stems for this step.

Step 3: Fill in small berry picks
- Using small berry sprays, fill in any bare spots.
- Nestle the stems between the larger ones and arrange them close to the wreath base. Doing this creates volume and a lush appearance.

Step 4: Add accents
- Apply hot glue to the mini ornaments and place them throughout the wreath.
- Adhere them to the wreath base, not the berry sprays, to ensure they are secure.
- Once the hot glue has set, remove any glue strings.

Step 5: Light up (optional)
- Carefully turn the wreath around.
- Lay the battery compartment on the wreath frame.
- Wrap fine wire several times around the casing to secure to the wreath.
- Holding the wreath up, wrap the string light around the wreath.
- When you come to the end of the string, tie it around a grapevine stem to secure the wreath.

Tips for a beautiful holiday wreath
Follow these tricks, and you’re ensured a perfectly balanced, luxurious red berry wreath:
- Textures: To create visual interest, incorporate a variety of different textures. Use shiny, matt, glitter, and frosted berry stems.
- Sizes: Use red berry picks in different sizes. You want a mix of long twigs with small berries and short picks with large fruits.
- Shades of red: Try to combine various hues or red. Some of my berry stems were a bright scarlet red, some were a muted crimson, and others had a deep burgundy tone.
- Don’t skimp on the embellishments. Your wreath will appear more lavish and lusher if you pack on the berries and use more rather than less.
- Take a step back as you arrange and check your wreath from a distance to identify areas where you need to add more berry picks.
- Don’t be afraid to remove and reposition berry picks. Since the stems aren’t glued to the wreath base, you can rearrange them as often as you like.
- Bow: Leave a segment sparse if you plan to add a large bow or ribbon to your wreath.

Variations
Though red berries look incredible on their own, consider one of the following ideas to up your wreath game:
- Frosted red berry wreath: Spray your finished holiday wreath with snow spray for an iced look. Spray lightly to replicate the appearance of morning frost or liberally to create the impression of a snowy wreath.
- Red berry wreath with greenery: Pops of green leaves contrast beautifully with the red berries. Adorn your wreath with a few boxwood picks.
- Woodland wreath: To create a festive woodland effect, accentuate your wreath with these picks that feature red berries, pine needles, and mini pinecones.
- White berry wreath: Swap out red for white berry stems.

Where to display your DIY Christmas wreath
A red berry wreath is an easy way to bring festive flair to any space! You can display your holiday wreath outside or indoors. Try these locations to brighten up different areas of your home.
Indoors
- Mantel: The fireplace mantel is a wonderful place to present your wreath. Decorate the mantel with a red berry garland for a cohesive look.
- Windows are a great place to showcase wreaths.
- Interior doors: Use a piece of ribbon to suspend your wreath from interior doors.
- Furniture and mirrors: I like to hang my wreaths in assuming places like kitchen cabinets, before a mirror, or over my bed.
Outdoors
- Front door: Greet guests with a cheerful red berry wreath. Adjustable wreath hangers are a handy device for hanging the wreath without damaging your door.
- A porch or patio is also an interesting place to dress up with a beautiful seasonal wreath.
- Exterior windows, such as large bay windows,look incredibly festive with a large red berry wreath in the center. Plus, you can enjoy the wreath from the inside as well.
Wreath storage tips
Once the holidays are over, it’s time to stow away your red berry wreath. Follow these wreath storage tips to enjoy your creation for many years to come!
- Cardboard box: A large cardboard box is perfect for keeping wreaths free of dust and debris. You can recycle a container or purchase a dedicated wreath box. If you need to organize multiple wreaths, stack them on top of each other between layers of tissue paper. Be sure to label the box, so you know what’s inside.
- Plastic wreath box: Hard plastic wreath boxes are the safest way to store your wreath. It also makes it easy to spot what decoration is inside.
- Closet: Using ribbing, hang your DIY Christmas wreath on a hanger and hang it inside a closet. Cover the wreath with a clear plastic bag to protect it from dust.

Red Berry Wreath Instructions
Give guests a beautiful welcome with a lush red berry wreath at your front door! This DIY holiday wreath with red berries would also be lovely Christmas decor for your mantle. The step-by-step tutorial includes tips for showcasing and storing the wreath.
Materials
- 16 in / 40 cm grapevine wreath (can use another size if preferred)
- 80 – 100 red berry stems
- 20 red mini holiday ornaments
- battery operated LED string lights (optional)
- fine wire (optional, only needed to secure the fairy lights to the wreath)
Tools
Instructions
- Create base. Start with your most flexible and bendable berry sprays. Using wire cutters, shorten the stems to 3 in to 4 in / 7 cm to 10 cm. Pushing the branches between the grapevine, insert them at a flat angle into the wreath base. Add 1 stem in the center, move a few inches down, and then add 2 stems at the sides. Repeat and go around the whole wreath. You need probably 40 to 50 stalks for this step.
- Add movement. Next, take long and sturdy berry stems. Let them stick out of the wreath to create movement. You need approximately 9 to 10 stems for this step.
- Fill in small berry picks. Using small berry sprays, fill in any bare spots. Nestle the stems between the larger ones and arrange them close to the wreath base. Doing this creates volume and a lush appearance.
- Add accents. Apply hot glue to the mini ornaments and place them throughout the wreath. Adhere them to the wreath base, not the berry sprays, to ensure they are secure. Once the hot glue has set, remove any glue strings.
- Light up (optional). Carefully turn the wreath around. Lay the battery compartment on the wreath frame. Wrap fine wire several times around the casing to secure to the wreath. Holding the wreath up, wrap the string light around the wreath. When you come to the end of the string, tie it around a grapevine stem to secure the wreath.